Pauline Liu: Eyes on Albany for Common Core 2014

Monday

Dec 30, 2013 at 2:00 AMDec 30, 2013 at 7:58 AM

As we close out the year, 2013 will go down as the year the Common Core began to unravel. Faced with widespread opposition from students, parents and educators alike, the controversial learning standards seem headed toward a tailspin.

Pauline Liu

As we close out the year, 2013 will go down as the year the Common Core began to unravel. Faced with widespread opposition from students, parents and educators alike, the controversial learning standards seem headed toward a tailspin.

While some critics detest the entire concept of the Common Core, others have blamed much of the problem on its rushed rollout. Either way, the curriculum has resulted in high-stakes testing only the State Education Department seems to support.

Parents have voiced frustration as they watch their kids struggle with their homework. Some complain they can't help their kids, because the lessons almost seem like a foreign language to them.

In response to recommendations made by the State Educational Conference Board, the state Board of Regents recently called for a $1.3 billion increase in state aid in the 2014-2015 state budget "to improve the implementation of the Common Core Standards."

The board is a coalition of the state's major education organizations, consisting of parents, teachers, administrators and school board members. It's recommendations, which were made back in October, included a request for more money for teacher training.

While the Board of Regents' acknowledgement of problems with the Common Core is a step in the right direction, its proposal to hike state aid ignited a firestorm of criticism on social media.

Some of the posts accused the Board of Regents and Education Commissioner John King Jr. of "hypocrisy" and pandering to the public. Meanwhile, several Orange County superintendents said they believe that nothing has changed.

"The budget office will meet with the governor and say, 'This is what you're really going to get,'" said Chester superintendent Sean Michel. "So at the end of the day, who knows what it's going to be? It's what happens every year," he added.

The fate of the Common Core in 2014 will rest heavily on Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has called himself the "advocate for students." If Cuomo truly wants to be their advocate, then schools will need to be better funded and the Common Core will need to be revamped.

As we enter 2014, it will be interesting to watch what happens when lawmakers return to Albany. Some of them have been very critical of public education.

The Senate and Assembly each have a number of one-house bills designed to overhaul the Common Core and better protect student privacy. So keep your eyes on Albany.

Students, parents and educators have already taken their stand. In 2014, we could see the Common Core completely unravel or perhaps the governor, the State Education Department and lawmakers could turn it into a curriculum that works. The next move is theirs.

pliu@th-record.com

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